Softlines

SGS, the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company, has launched new comprehensive testing protocol for footwear packaging – a first for the footwear industry. The innovative testing protocol is designed to support brand owners and retailers, including e-commerce, to have confidence that their packaging will perform well, meet environmental and sustainability standards and […]

In October 2020, the Swedish government announced it was postponing the implementation of its new chemical tax for clothing and footwear until 2022. The decision follows the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. First announced in May 2020, the tax is designed to phase out the use of hazardous chemicals in clothing and footwear. It is

In response to the latest changes in the COVID-19 pandemic, the French Government has recently issued a decree that recommends only face covering masks with a filtration efficiency of at least 90% be used. Issued on January 27, 2021, with the Cross Ministries Note updated on January 28, 2021, Decree No. 2021-76 takes on board

China has updated its national standard covering the generic names for man-made fibers – GB/T 4146.1-2020 Textiles-Man-made fibers – Part 1: Generic names. Issued as part of China’s No. 22 announcement on newly approved national standards in 2020, the new standard will come into effect on May 1, 2021. It covers all man-made fibers, defined

China’s Standardization Administration has put into effect its new, updated national product standard for towels – GB/T 22864-2020. The standard applies to all kinds of woven towel products made from textile fibers, but does not include: Microfiber towels Single-use towels [if !supportLists] The main technical contents of the standard are: General safety technical requirements shall

SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, is helping clothing and textile manufacturers gain a better understanding of the growing market for organic cotton. Consumers are increasingly demanding products that are organic, not least organic textiles. Total global production of organic cotton was estimated at 239,787 metric tons in 2018/19, an increase of

Manufacturers of knitted garments that are dyed using vegetable dyes are reminded that China has issued a new industry standard – FZ/T 73065-2020 – which came into effect on October 1, 2020. Issued by the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the standard applies to knitted garments that contain either: Only vegetable dyes Vegetable

On January 1, 2021, Turkey’s ‘Communique on the Inspection of Some Textile, Clothing and Leather Products (2021/18)’ entered into force. This regulates the procedures and principles governing the inspection of specified products against relevant legislation in terms of human health, safety of life, property and the environment, and consumer protection. The communique was published in

Suppliers of children’s clothing with small, attached components to markets in the European Union (EU) are advised that the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) has developed four new documents that should be referred to when ensuring compliance with the General Product Safety Directive (GPSD). The four documents – one EU standard and three Technical Specifications